Somali Referee Picked For Major Gig After U.S. Denies Entry To World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off Thursday — and HuffPost is live-blogging every twist, turn and controversy of what’s widely shaping up to be the most political soccer tournament of all time.From the action on the pitch to the potential chaos off it, the storylines are already piling up: Iran’s possible non-participation amid Donald Trump’s war, the president’s close relationship with FIFA’s Peace Prize-awarding President Gianni Infantino, and simmering tensions between the U.S. and fellow host nations Mexico and Canada fueled by Trump’s tariffs and divisive rhetoric.Trump’s travel bans have kept some fans and officials out; there’s been fury over soaring ticket prices, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could be present at games as the Trump administration continues its anti-immigration crackdown.Not to mention extreme heat concerns that scorched everyone involved the last time the U.S. hosted the tournament, some 32 years ago, in 1994.And that’s all before a ball has been kicked.President Donald Trump, left, received the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, in December.Andrew Harnik via Getty ImagesOn the field, the men’s national teams from 48 countries will compete in a record 104 matches across the three host nations in what will be the biggest World Cup in history.Mexico will take on South Africa at the iconic Mexico City Stadium in the opening game on June 11. The U.S. will play Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12, Australia in Seattle on June 19 and Turkey back in Los Angeles on June 25, in the group games, before potentially competing in the later knockout rounds.The final will be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, which is being temporarily rebranded as the New York/New Jersey Stadium for the competition.Current European champions Spain are favorites to lift the trophy. Defending champions Argentina, of Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi fame, along with France, England and Brazil, are also expected to be in the mix.Check out the full games schedule on the FIFA website.Follow along with our coverage below:Somali Referee Picked For Major Gig After U.S. Denies Entry To World CupNEW YORK, June 11 (Reuters) - Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who is unable to take part in the World Cup after being denied entry to the United States, has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris St Germain and Aston Villa.Artan, 34, was named among match officials for the June 11-July 19 World Cup but was forced to miss the tournament after U.S. authorities refused him entry despite having a valid visa.European soccer's governing body said on Thursday that his appointment for the Super Cup followed discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and formed part of a recently signed cooperation agreement between the two bodies.The August 12 match in Salzburg pits Champions League winners Paris St Germain against Europa League holders Aston Villa."Omar Artan has made Somalia and the entire people of the African Continent, extremely proud. His receipt of the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025 and his appointment as a referee of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are a recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect that he enjoys," said CAF president Patrice Motsepe.President Donald Trump's strict immigration policies have been a point of concern for the World Cup, with Washington imposing ‌a sweeping travel ban last year on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.An administration official said on Tuesday that Artan was denied entry because of his links to "suspected members of terror organizations".(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)Latest Live UpdatesMexico Opens World Cup Against A Backdrop Of ProtestsMEXICO CITY, June 11 (Reuters) - Mexico City opened the World Cup on Thursday at the famous Azteca stadium with a ceremony celebrating pre-Hispanic culture, as the ground rocked ahead of the tournament's first match between Mexico and South Africa that kicks off against a backdrop of protests around the capital.Fans in Mariachi costumes, with sombreros and trumpets, formed a sea of dark green support as Shakira and Burna Boy performed the 2026 World Cup anthem and pyrotechnics filled the ground.Alejandro Garcia, 50, decked out in a sombrero and carrying a replica trophy, said he was proud that Mexico was hosting another World Cup. He was a young kid when the country last hosted the tournament in 1986."This is our temple," he said on the concourse around the Azteca. "It's going to be a great World Cup, all of the protests will now be forgotten."But outside the ground, the city of 9 million people remained deeply divided.The run-up to the tournament in Mexico, which the country is co-hosting with the U.S. and Canada, has been marked by social unrest in the capital as various groups -- from teachers to families of those missing in the drug war -- have marched in attempts to leverage the international spotlight to advance their cause.At least six protests were planned on Thursday, with the city a contradiction of celebration and opposition. Freshly painted murals, new trains and a revamped stadium aimed at welcoming tourists for the games contrasted with steel barricades mounted by businesses to protect themselves from rioters along the capital's main avenue. CAMPS AND MARCHESAbout three miles from the Azteca, thousands of disgruntled teachers from around the country began marching towards the stadium ahead of the match.Avelina Cruz Miguel, who has taught elementary school for 22 years, travelled from Oaxaca to protest for better pay. She said the protests offered an opportunity for the teachers to make their demands known at "an international level." "There is no support for education" in Mexico, she said.Teachers had also camped outside the central Zocalo square for days leading up to the start of the tournament.The encampment forced authorities to barricade the entrance to the Zocalo on the eve of the competition opener and raised fears the area would be closed to fans who had planned to amass in the square to watch on a big screen.On Thursday, tents lined the streets for multiple blocks surrounding the square but authorities confirmed the fan zone would be open.Mario Martinez, 30, from Tijuana, was one of the first fans to enter with his girlfriend. He said they had come to the fan zone because stadium tickets were too expensive and had been worried the event would be cancelled. "Thank God it all worked out."In the Zocalo, organisers said the fan zone was at capacity with over 50,000 packed into the square to watch the game.Many residents have complained money was being spent to beautify the city for visitors without addressing underlying infrastructure issues. Thursday was declared an official holiday in Mexico City, in part to alleviate transport concerns.Other Chilangos, as Mexico City locals are known, complained of prohibitively high ticket prices that had kept them from seeing the spectacle live in their home town. For the opening match between Mexico and South Africa some fans interviewed by Reuters said they had paid $3,000 or more, way out of reach for most Mexicans. FIFA has defended its pricing saying the cost of tickets is on a par with other major sporting events."FIFA is only interested in profit," said Jonathan Cordoba, 33, as he stood in a long queue to enter the stadium. But he said he had no regrets: "It's the passion!"(Reporting by Stephen Eisenhammer, Emily Green, Cassandra Garrison and Sarah Morland in Mexico City. Editing by Toby Davis.)Donald Trump’s Welcome To The World Cup Video Goes Off The Rails In ‘Tonight Show’ BitOn the eve of the World Cup that the United States is co-hosting, Jimmy Fallon imagined President Donald Trump releasing a video to welcome the different countries. Read more below.Texas Senate Candidate Talarico Releases World Cup-Themed AdState Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Texas, released a Spanish-language World Cup-themed ad set to air on Telemundo during all of the United States' and Mexico's group-stage games at the tournament.The narrator says Talarico, a former public school teacher, is "on the field for our families" and is "changing the game on the fat cats" by increasing taxes on the wealthy. Talarico is facing GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton in November's general election. Polling has shown Talarico with a consistent but narrow lead over the Republican. Major Outlet Rips 'Hateful And Greedy' Host Country In World Cup EditorialNancy Armour’s column in USA Today on Wednesday began provocatively enough: “The United States has already lost this World Cup.” Read more below.Expected World Cup Tourism Boost Is A Bust So Far, Report SaysHours before the World Cup kickoff, the boost to travel and tourism expected from this year’s biggest sporting event has yet to materialize. Read more below.Mexico City Metro Station's Wild World Cup Makeover Sparks A Flood Of Internet MemesThe sound of construction roared over the most memed metro station in Mexico City as workers hammered at marble floors under a chandelier and rows of lamps reminiscent of a scene from “Harry Potter” or “Titanic,” racing to finish ahead of the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony Thursday.Mexicans milling through the busy Hidalgo metro station pointed and laughed, occasionally snapping pictures of the face-lift that has become the subject of a cascade of internet memes.The cosmetic makeover that authorities have attempted to give the capital as visitors arrive from around the globe also has become a symbol of criticisms that the government is prioritizing its superficial appearance for World Cup fans over fixing critical structural issues that have long plagued the city.“People make fun of it because it's a failed aesthetic, it doesn't make a lot of sense,” said Silvia Escamilla, 28, who was hustling to work among a crowd of Mexican commuters. “All these renovations are like putting makeup on the city, because the infrastructure they could actually invest in just isn’t there.”For weeks, Mexico City workers have plastered walls and metro cars with cartoon axolotls, the mole salamander that has become a city mascot. They also have painted bridges purple and planted Mexican marigold flowers typical of Day of the Dead celebrations in November.The 22 million residents of the sprawling capital, known as Chilangos, have jokingly referred to the renovations as the city's “axolotlization.” They have posted videos of flooded underpasses next to freshly painted murals of axolotls and crumbling stairs and potholes painted bright purple.Hidalgo station, in the heart of the downtown, has perhaps become the subject of more memes than anywhere else in the city.When city workers installed the chandelier near the metro entrance and rows of Victorian wall lamps in May, social media users were quick to joke that authorities were trying to make the gritty metro system look like it was in a European city.Social media creators mock the changesResidents began to show up at the station in elegant dresses in videos layered over Mozart music. One social media influencer descended the marble stairs dressed as the Beast from the classic Disney cartoon “Beauty and the Beast.” Another arrived as Napoleon Bonaparte in a white wig and French military uniform.“May you have an elegant metro connection,” one social media influencer said as he strolled through throngs of commuters dressed in a tuxedo and top hat. Another filmed herself selling pink dresses aboard one of the metro trains, yelling to passengers that the items matched the “etiquette” of Metro Hidalgo.Many more posed next to marble floors and walls torn up by construction ahead of the soccer tournament being hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada.The humor highlights larger issuesThe crush of jokes amused Mexicans for weeks, but also cut to the core of a deeper problem in the city, said Aldo Solano Rojas, an art historian in Mexico City who has criticized the remodel.Failures to prioritize issues like the metro's crumbling infrastructure and holes in the major municipal roadways show the government “doesn't understand the real needs of the city,” he said.“State presence, at its best, is reflected in well-maintained sidewalks and adequate transportation infrastructure that doesn't collapse every day,” Solano Rojas said. “It's not reflected in frivolous, superficial axolotl murals while the streets are flooding.”The criticisms come in the midst of wider social unrest in Mexico City as the country's teachers union, families of Mexico's 130,000 missing people and a range of other social movements use the proximity to the event to pressure authorities.The government also has faced accusations of displacing sex workers and street vendors in an effort to clean up the streets. Despite the tensions, city workers on Wednesday were still racing to complete construction ahead of the opening ceremony and first match.Mirna Baranco looked fondly on the renovations, but the 46-year-old laughed at the chandelier over Hidalgo construction workers. She nudged her boyfriend and pointed.“I've already seen it all over the place on Facebook, but not in real life,” she said.Baranco understood the criticisms, but said she didn't think it was necessarily a bad thing that authorities were making changes to be more attractive to international visitors. The World Cup has helped push local governments to make needed renovations, even if some look a little out of place, she said.The changes show that “Mexico isn't just how others stereotype us, as a country with narcos,” Baranco said. “Mexico has a lot to give the world.”World Cup 2026 Ultimate Guide: Teams, Star Players And FixturesThe 2026 edition of the World Cup will be co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. The tournament, expanded from 32 to 48 teams and played across 16 cities, takes place from June 11 to July 19.Here is a breakdown of the teams taking part, their path to the tournament and some key names to watch:Argentina Fans Denied U.S. Visas Get Unexpected World Cup Consolation PrizeDozens of Argentines who were denied visas to travel to the United States to see the World Cup will at least have a new free television to watch the games.Argentine conglomerate Newsan promised to give out local brand Noblex televisions to the first 100 people who lined up on Wednesday outside its Buenos Aires office with paperwork in hand showing they had been denied a visa between January and June of this year to visit the United States."Give us your denied visa and take a free TV," an advertisement on Instagram said.One of the lucky winners was Tomas Vageller, a 24-year-old professional videogame player."I went to get a visa because we all think it will be Messi's last World Cup," he said. "It's very sad I won't be able to see it, but well, I'm leaving with a gift."In three-time World Cup winner Argentina, soccer fever has been unusually tempered days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off in North America - much less feverish than in 2022, which many saw as Argentina's last hope to win the tournament under Lionel Messi's leadership.Trump-Allied FIFA Chief Has Bizarre 'Just Chill, Relax' Response To World Cup ControversyFIFA President Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket prices on Wednesday, saying “if we do something wrong, then probably everyone selling tickets in North America is doing something wrong.”Infantino also said it was unfortunate Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the U.S.“We don’t control everything. We try. We’ll discuss, we will speak, we’ll see. Maybe sometimes it’s good as well to just chill, relax,” he said. “We try to solve everything. Sometimes to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect of finding a solution. Believe me when I tell you, or don’t believe me if you don’t want, but we try always to find solutions, always. But then we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces.”Read more here:U.S. Team Receives Major Player Lift For World Cup OpenerHeading into their World Cup opener on Friday, the U.S. men's national team received a massive lift when defender Chris Richards declared himself ready to go against Paraguay.Richards, 26, who suffered a pair of torn ligaments in his left ankle while playing for Crystal Palace of the Premier League on May 17, has been a full participant at practice this week for the first time since the injury."I'm ready to go," Richards told reporters Wednesday, adding that he has not been informed of any minutes restrictions. "It's the World Cup. I was going to make myself ready regardless. ... If there's any time to sacrifice yourself, it's now. I know I'm able to play Friday but I don't make those decisions."Richards sat out both of the pre-World Cup friendlies against Senegal and Germany while rehabbing his ankle ahead of the opener, and said the recovery time was just what he needed ahead of the Group D opener at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif."Rehab is rehab. It's never really fun," Richards added. "It's been long days of just trying to get my ankle right, swelling, whatever the case is, trying to get everything right. It took about as long as I expected, honestly. Initial diagnosis was day-to-day but, for me, I was aiming for 2-3 weeks. I think we're on schedule."Fear did creep into Richards' mind that an injury would force him to miss his second consecutive World Cup. In 2022, a persistent hamstring injury that sidelined him for months kept him out of the tournament in Qatar."When I first came out with the injury, I was pretty devastated, and I was honestly fearing the worst," he said, adding that he does not feel any restrictions regarding movement. "But I kind of forced myself back on the pitch to prove to myself that it was doable."Richards' teammates are elated to have the defender -- one of the team's leaders and keys to its success -- back on the pitch in time for the opener."Chris is one of the most important players on the team, but my best friend as well," winger Tim Weah said. "Seeing him healthy and playing is everything."See All Updates